Category: Daily Trust

The newly elected Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Kaduna State Branch, Dr Aisha Mustapha, has called for unity and renewed commitment to members’ welfare.

Mustapha made the call during the formal handover ceremony at the new NMA Kaduna State Secretariat, where she assumed office alongside other members of the newly elected State Officers Committee (SOC).

She is the first woman to lead the association in the state.

She said the election was over and that the new administration was now focused on providing purposeful leadership and strengthening the association.

‘Elections are over; now is the time to work,’ Mustapha said, urging members to forgive one another, embrace each other and work collectively for the advancement of NMA Kaduna.

She said the strength of the association depended on unity and collective commitment rather than individual interests or divisions.

Mustapha also assured members that she would remain open to corrections, guidance and constructive criticism, but urged them to channel their concerns through appropriate avenues.

She cautioned against backbiting, slander and other actions capable of creating divisions within the association, saying constructive criticism should be used to improve leadership and strengthen the organisation.

The chairman said her administration would prioritise members’ welfare, effective communication, institutional development, professional advocacy and strategic engagement with relevant stakeholders.

The new SOC unveiled a 12-point agenda, including the commencement of internet banking, reactivation of the association’s social media platforms and expansion of media engagement across Kaduna State.

Other priorities include engagement with public and private health institutions, diversification of revenue sources, early budgeting and strategic planning, effective representation at the national level and stronger collaboration with government and other stakeholders.

The administration also plans to commercialise and increase the visibility of its Emergency Treatment Guidelines by obtaining an International Standard Serial Number (ISSN), while improving the welfare of NMA administrative staff.

It further pledged to double the award for the best graduating medical student and upgrade the association’s secretariat with running water, security, landscaping, cooling systems and Wi-Fi services.

The handover marked the transition from the administration of the outgoing chairman, Dr Hassan Bala Salihu, who highlighted achievements and challenges recorded during his tenure.

Salihu urged the new leadership to consolidate the gains of his administration, address outstanding challenges and remain focused on the collective interests of members.

The event ended with Mustapha leading members of the new SOC on a visit to an NMA member hospitalised following an illness.

The new administration wished the member a speedy recovery and urged colleagues to continue supporting one another in the spirit of professional solidarity.

The Arewa Think Tank has described allegations against the Executive Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), Zacch Adedeji, over the Frontier Exploration Fund as a plot to discredit the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The group’s Convener, Muhammad Alhaji Yakubu, said the allegations should be treated with caution, particularly following Adedeji’s denial of the reports, which he described as sponsored fake news.

An online report had alleged that $279 million was transferred from the Frontier Exploration Fund’s account to unnamed accounts and claimed that Adedeji and the NRS were aware of the alleged movement of funds.

The report also alleged that the development had put the NRS chairman under pressure, with some stakeholders purportedly calling for a forensic audit of the fund.

However, Adedeji dismissed the allegations as false, describing them as an attempt to tarnish his reputation and that of the NRS.

‘That report is not true in any way. It is pure fake news sponsored by some jobless persons whose pastime is to throw mud at high performers in the President Tinubu government,’ he was quoted as saying.

Reacting to the controversy, Yakubu said the allegations were part of what he described as sponsored allegations and sensational reports targeting officials involved in the Tinubu administration’s reforms.

‘We are concerned about the growing pattern of sponsored allegations and sensational reports targeted at officials who are playing critical roles in the ongoing reforms of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration. The latest allegations against the NRS Chairman are unfortunate and should not be allowed to distract the government from its reform agenda.’ he said.

Yakubu urged Nigerians to distinguish between legitimate scrutiny and politically motivated attempts to damage the reputation of public officials.

He said the Frontier Exploration Fund was established under Section 9 of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021, to finance petroleum exploration activities in frontier basins where commercially viable hydrocarbon reserves had not been fully established.

He listed the relevant basins as Bida, Benue Trough, Anambra, Chad, Sokoto and Dahomey.

According to him, the fund supports activities including geological mapping, seismic surveys, exploratory drilling, appraisal wells, basin studies and other exploration-related activities.

Yakubu said the technical nature of the fund made it important for stakeholders and members of the public to rely on verifiable information rather than unverified online reports.

‘We must be careful not to turn every allegation on social media into a conviction. If there are genuine questions about public funds, the appropriate institutions should investigate them. But deliberately publishing allegations without establishing the facts is not in the interest of Nigeria,’ he said.

He also urged media organisations and online publishers to verify allegations and give accused individuals and institutions an opportunity to respond before publication.

‘Freedom of expression and press freedom are fundamental, but they must go together with responsibility. Journalists and publishers should verify their information, especially when allegations concern integrity, public funds and the reputation of public officials,’ Yakubu said.

He further warned against what he described as attempts by fifth columnists to use social media to create confusion and undermine public confidence in government institutions.

Yakubu said government officials should not be shielded from scrutiny but insisted that such scrutiny must be factual, fair and evidence-based.

‘We are not saying that government officials should be above scrutiny. Far from it. What we are saying is that scrutiny must be factual, fair and evidence-based. Where there are allegations, let the appropriate authorities examine them. But nobody should be condemned based on a story whose claims have not been substantiated,’ he said.

The Arewa Think Tank urged the NRS leadership to remain focused on its mandate and continue supporting the Federal Government’s efforts to strengthen revenue mobilisation, transparency and economic development.

The group also urged members of the public to verify contentious claims through credible official channels rather than relying solely on social media reports.

…..hails JAMB Registrar for clearing 5,000 pending complaints in five days

The Arewa Think Tank has commended the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Segun Aina, for clearing more than 5,000 pending complaints from candidates and other clients of the board within five days.

Convener of the group, Muhammad Alhaji Yakubu, said Aina’s relocation to the Board’s Service Compact with All Nigerians (SERVICOM) Unit to examine complaints demonstrated responsive leadership and commitment to public service.

‘We commend Prof. Segun Aina for demonstrating that leadership in a public institution is not merely about sitting in an office and issuing directives. His decision to personally engage with complaints and seek immediate solutions is a clear demonstration of leadership by example,’ Yakubu said.

The complaints covered biometric verification failures, payment and e-PIN difficulties, inappropriate examination venues, technical problems, lost phones and SIM cards, as well as issues involving the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS).

Other complaints involved changes to candidates’ names, dates of birth, states of origin and local government areas, while some concerned candidates who converted from Direct Entry to UTME and graduates whose names were missing from the National Matriculation List.

Yakubu said the clearance of the complaints showed that many bureaucratic challenges could be resolved when public institutions adopt a proactive approach.

‘These are not just technical complaints. Behind every complaint is a young Nigerian whose future may depend on gaining admission into a university, polytechnic or college of education. That is why the direct intervention of the Registrar is worthy of commendation,’ he said.

He urged other government agencies to adopt similar approaches to complaint management, saying citizens should not be made to move from one office to another endlessly before their genuine problems are resolved.

‘We congratulate the JAMB Registrar and his team on this achievement. Five thousand resolved complaints in five days is significant, but more importantly, it demonstrates what can happen when leadership listens, engages directly with citizens and acts decisively.

‘Our young people deserve a system that is fair, responsive and humane. We believe the current intervention is a step in the right direction, and we encourage the JAMB leadership to keep up the good work,’ he added.

Yakubu also urged JAMB to sustain the initiative and strengthen its complaint-resolution mechanism to prevent recurring challenges and improve public confidence in the Board.

Eighty-seven days after terrorists abducted pupils from Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, their families said the pain of their absence remains as raw as it was on the morning they were taken.

The abduction, which occurred on Friday, May 15, 2026, at around 9:00 a.m., shattered the peace of the Mussa community. Armed insurgents raided the school, taking the pupils, including toddlers, into captivity and leaving behind a trail of trauma, empty classrooms, and devastated homes.

Speaking with Daily Trust, parents of the abducted children expressed profound despair, noting that they have received no official information regarding the whereabouts or condition of their loved ones.

Compounding their grief, the families claim that both state and federal authorities have remained largely silent on the situation, leaving them to navigate their nightmares in isolation.

‘Nearly three months now, the psychological toll of uncertainty we endure is still hunting us. We live in constant fear and uncertainty,’ a parent, Mr Sale Buba, said.

He said that since the children were abducted, no group has claimed responsibility for the abduction and demanded ransom from them.

‘Our wives cry every day, and barely sleep at night. We constantly think about their conditions under captivity,’ he said.

He said that each time the rain started falling, his wife and other affected women would be restless, demanding answers about their children.

‘My wife will cry like a baby, thinking about the condition of her little children under the heavy rainfall,’ he said.

Also speaking, a mother, Josphin Yohanna, described the situation as a calamity that had befallen the community.

‘Many families were left anxious, no government visit, no update, or visible efforts to rescue our children,’ he said.

She said when the government officials told them to exercise patience and promised to rescue their children, ‘We all thought by now our children would have returned home, but it’s become a forgotten issue. This is where we are today.

‘For how long should we continue waiting without any update?,’ she asked.

Ishaya Suya, the chairman of the parents of the abducted children, said living without their children is torture.

‘We do not know if our children are safe, if they are fed, or what condition they are in, especially in this rainy season. I wonder if they are sick, healthy,’ he said.

He called on the state government to be more concerned about the condition of their children.

‘These children were abducted on the same day as the Ogbomosho children in Oyo. Their governor didn’t rest. Today, their children are not only released, but the perpetrators were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.

‘Unfortunately, we are here begging to know the fates of our children, but nobody is saying anything,’ he said.

The councillor representing Mussa ward, Peter Haruna Waba, confirmed that the children are still in captivity and no group has claimed responsibility for the abduction.

‘We were confused about the situation. Nobody believes that these children will remain in captivity until this time. This is a calamity,’ he said.

He urged parents to remain calm as the state government is doing its best to secure the release of the children.

‘The Commissioner for Education was in our community on behalf of the governor, and he gave us hope that they would do everything to ensure that our children return safely.

‘We know the government is trying to rescue these children, but more efforts should be made to expedite their freedom,’ he said.

CSOs condemn govt’s silence

The Borno State Network of Civil Society Organisations condemned the prolonged silence of the state and federal government regarding the mass abduction of the schoolchildren.

The coalition’s chairman, Abubakar Suleiman, described the government’s lack of communication as both unfortunate and unacceptable.

He declared that authorities owe grieving families of Mussa and Lassa communities an immediate and transparent explanation.

He expressed deep concern that months after the tragic incident, the pupils still remain in the custody of their captors with no clear path to their rescue.

‘It is quite unfortunate that we are still discussing the children abducted back in May. It is completely unacceptable for parents and guardians to be kept entirely in the dark, left with zero information regarding the health, safety, and overall condition of their children,’ he said.

Suleiman heavily criticised the federal and security authorities for failing to provide reassuring or convincing answers to the affected families, noting that the psychological trauma inflicted on the parents is compounded by official apathy.

The CSOs called on the government to ramp up rescue operations to secure the immediate and safe return of the children without further delay.

Suleiman urged government officials to proactively reach out to the parents and guardians to express heartfelt sympathy and provide concrete reassurances that their loved ones will be brought home unharmed.

In a direct appeal to the abductors, the civil society leader called on the terrorists to search their consciences, consider the vulnerable state of the captives, and release them unconditionally to their families.

‘These children already come from underprivileged backgrounds and have been systematically excluded from many of life’s basic opportunities.

‘For them to now be subjected to this excruciating and terrifying ordeal is beyond unfortunate; it is a tragedy that demands urgent redemption,’ he said.

Why we are yet to rescue Mussa school children – security source

A security officer involved in the rescue operation of the abducted schoolchildren has explained why the victims have not been rescued.

The officer said a previous rescue mission, in which he participated, involved a combined team of military personnel, hunters and vigilantes who ventured deep into the forest days after the abduction.

He said the team came across an apparently abandoned mosque deep in the forest, where they found more than 30 mobile phones charging with a generator.

‘We did not know it was a bait left by the captors. Unwittingly walking into the trap, we confiscated the devices, only to be ruthlessly ambushed on our way out,’ he said.

According to him, the insurgents almost overpowered the team, seizing two military trucks and seven motorcycles and forcing the surviving members to make a narrow escape.

He said the encounter explained why subsequent rescue operations in the area were abruptly halted.

‘The militants possess superior knowledge of the terrain, are heavily armed and use psychological traps that turn search missions into lethal ambushes.

‘This has left the security forces severely outmatched in the dense forest,’ he said.

Borno govt keeps mum, says it’s a security matter

When contacted, the Borno State Commissioner for Education, Science and Innovation, Engr. Abba Lawan Wakilbe declined to comment on the situation.

He said inquiries should be directed to the military.

‘I can’t tell you beyond what you know. It’s a security matter, so contact the security agencies, please,’ he said.

FG should show more commitment – Security expert

A security expert, Major General Umar I. Mohammed, urged the Federal Government to demonstrate the same commitment in rescuing the abducted Mussa schoolchildren and teachers as it did in the case of the Orire pupils in Oyo State.

Mohammed said the government had a primary responsibility to protect the lives and welfare of all Nigerians, regardless of where they lived.

‘I will advise the government that all Nigerians should be treated the same. The same level of commitment, zeal and interest should be shown whenever there is a crisis anywhere in the country,’ he said.

He acknowledged the government’s efforts but urged it to deploy its full capacity to rescue citizens facing security challenges.

Mohammed also urged people in the North to speak out against issues affecting their communities.

‘They should be active and condemn when things are done wrongly. We should act in unison to bring an end to some of these menaces,’ he said.

The Mussa children were abducted alongside their teachers and the Orire pupils, who were rescued two weeks ago.

A public affairs analyst, Alhaji Ahmadu Ibrahim, also questioned the apparent disparity in the government’s response.

He urged the Federal Government to explain why the Oriire pupils were rescued while the Mussa children remain in captivity.

A Mobile Magistrate Court sitting in Bolade, Oshodi, Lagos, has sentenced 30 persons to two months’ imprisonment each for vandalising and removing iron rods supporting bridges across the state.

The convicts were arraigned before the court on Friday after they were arrested in connection with the alleged vandalism of structural components of the Alakija, Trade Fair, Orile and Abule-Ado bridges.

They pleaded guilty to the charges, following which the court convicted and sentenced each of them to two months in prison.

The prosecution alleged that the suspects removed iron rods supporting the bridges, an act capable of weakening critical infrastructure and putting the lives of motorists and other road users at risk.

Those convicted are Aminu Muhammed, Alamin Ibrahim, Bashiru Kabiru, Ibrahim Usman, Muritala Abdullahi, Nnana Obi, Umoru Haruna, Monsuru Abubakar, Muktari Aminu and Ayodele Abiodun.

Others are Destiny Peter, Akolade Oluwaseun, Raphael Ugoji, Misa Zaki, Kabiru Nosiru, Rabiu Zachariah, Yahaya Abdulrasheed, Olamilekan Mufutau, Azeez Balogun and Daniel Ayeru.

The remaining convicts are Bello Kabiru, Rasheed Akanni, Abdul Muhammad, Ahmeed Sanni, Jubril Lawal, Nurudeen Idris, Okazie Maxwell, Emmanuel Chibuzor, Alaba Mufutau and Esther Emmanuel.

The convictions come amid growing concern over the vandalism of public infrastructure in Lagos, particularly the removal of metal components from bridges, road installations and other government facilities for economic gain.

The latest convictions are expected to reinforce the authorities’ crackdown on the vandalism of public infrastructure, particularly facilities considered critical to public safety and transportation.

The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Mohammed Matawalle, has assured Nigerians that the 2027 general election under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will be free, fair and credible.

Matawalle, represented by Dr Auwal Abdullahi, stated this while addressing supporters of the Tinubu Again Movement and other political support groups that converged on Kaduna to mobilise support for the president’s re-election.

He said President Tinubu had demonstrated the political will to ensure a level playing field for all political actors ahead of the 2027 elections.

According to him, the president’s leadership style showed that he was committed to preventing government institutions from being used to intimidate opposition parties.

‘As far as political leadership is concerned, for a president to instruct a corruption umpire, to unblock an account that they blocked because election is coming, that simply tells you that the president says he does not want interference when it comes to issues of politics,’ he said.

Matawalle said Tinubu had also made it clear that nobody should use his name or government position to intimidate members of the opposition’.

The minister described Tinubu as a politician who had risen from the grassroots to the presidency through years of political engagement and experience.

‘I can guarantee, borrowing from his words, the 2027 election will be very fair and credible. But I can guarantee you, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is winning the election,’ Matawalle said.

The minister also urged political support groups across the country to join the Tinubu Again Movement, describing it as a national platform committed to securing Tinubu’s re-election.

He said the movement was not established for personal interests but to mobilise Nigerians in support of the president’s 2027 ambition.

‘What matters to them is the delivery of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027. And that was why they agreed to merge with the Tinubu Again Movement,’ he said.

Matawalle said more support groups were expected to join the movement, describing the mobilisation as a ‘moving train’ that would deliver Tinubu in 2027.

Meanwhile, the National Coordinator of the Tinubu Second Term Mandate, Dr Aminu Mohammed, said the group was targeting at least 60 per cent of the votes cast across the country for Tinubu in 2027.

‘We intend to make sure that out of this 100 per cent of the votes cast, at least 60 per cent will be votes initiated by the Tinubu movement to ensure the return of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,’ Mohammed said.

He said the movement would continue to mobilise support for the administration and promote what he described as its achievements.

‘Our goal, what we want to achieve is to see these achievements of the president continue, these achievements become consolidated, these achievements become so entrenched into the Nigerian system that even if another administration comes in, they cannot be changed,’ he said.

Mohammed also commended the administration for what he described as efforts to promote grassroots governance and transform the economy.

The Executive Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), Zacch Adedeji, has defended President Bola Tinubu against criticism over the alleged lavish lifestyles of political office holders, saying the President does not live extravagantly despite his position.

Adedeji said Tinubu maintains a modest lifestyle, claiming that the President often walks from his residence to his office and only uses a vehicle when travelling to the airport.

He also claimed that Tinubu eats only once a day and had not travelled outside Nigeria in the past three months.

Adedeji made the claims during an interview with Channels Television, where he responded to questions from journalist Seun Okinbaloye on the lifestyles of political office holders amid the economic difficulties confronting Nigerians.

The discussion came against the backdrop of growing public debate over government expenditure and the lifestyles of political leaders as Nigerians continue to grapple with rising living costs and other economic pressures.

Responding to questions about the President’s movements and reports concerning the number of luxury vehicles allegedly attached to his convoy, Adedeji challenged the suggestion that Tinubu was living lavishly.

He said the President could afford the vehicles reportedly associated with his office, questioning why the cost of an Escalade should be a subject of concern.

‘Mr President goes from home to office on foot, not even driving except when he is going to the airport. I don’t know where you see the convoy. Before he became president, what is he riding?

‘How much is an Escalade that the president of Nigeria cannot afford? Please don’t embarrass this country,’ Adedeji said.

He further argued that Tinubu’s activities and movements did not suggest that the President was living an extravagant lifestyle.

‘What is living large? In the last months, he has not even left the shores of this country, trekking and working. If you go there now, you will see him review one document or the other,’ he said.

Adedeji also said the President’s personal habits did not support the perception that he was living lavishly.

‘The president eats once in a day. How many parties have you seen him at in the last three years? Tell me where you have seen him, whether on holiday or anywhere?’ he asked.

His comments come amid continued public scrutiny of the cost of governance, official convoys and the lifestyles of political office holders, particularly at a time when many Nigerians are facing increased costs of food, transportation and other basic necessities.

The Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), Temi Popoola, has called on the Federal Government to leverage the capital market as a tool for economic transformation by listing stakes in strategic national assets like Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals Limited on the Nigerian Exchange.

Popoola spoke on the development when the board and management of NGX Group visited Tinubu at the State House in Abuja on Thursday.

He argued that public listings of major state-linked enterprises could deepen Nigeria’s capital market, broaden wealth creation opportunities, and unlock value for the economy.

According to him, previous government-backed initiatives played a significant role in the development of the Nigerian capital market and should serve as a model for future reforms.

Popoola said the government could boost market capitalization and investor participation by listing stakes in major enterprises such as Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG), Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals Limited, and selected assets within the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited portfolio.

‘You would remember, sir, in the 70s, we had the indigenisation programme. Many of your Nestlé’s and Unilever’s and these companies only came to the markets as a result.

‘MTN, the big telecommunications company that we talk about today, which is a major part of the exchange, also only came as a result of government efforts.’

He added that several of the identified companies already have provisions that could support future listings, making them strong candidates for public offerings.

‘There are a few companies that we have identified, companies like Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals Limited and NLNG.

‘Some of them already have listing clauses, while others may require government support to bring them to market. We would like your support in this regard.’

Popoola argued that listing strategic assets would not only expand investment opportunities for Nigerians but also provide a new avenue for mobilizing long-term capital to support economic growth.

The NGX boss noted that landmark listings in the past, including MTN Nigeria, helped broaden market participation and significantly increased the depth and value of the Nigerian capital market.

Popoola also hinted that economic reforms under President Bola Tinubu have created an estimated 500,000 to 900,000 millionaires through gains in the capital market.

He said the wealth creation was linked to the strong performance of the Nigerian stock market since the president assumed office in 2023.

‘Mr. President, tied to all these is a lot of wealth that has been created for many people. We don’t have exact figures, but we estimate that about 500,000 to 900,000 millionaires have been created as a result of reforms,’ Popoola said.

The NGX CEO said the market’s rapid growth also attracted attention from other African countries, with some looking to Nigeria as a model for developing their capital markets.

According to Popoola, the total value of listed equities has risen from about N30 trillion in 2023 to N160 trillion, while the NGX all-share Index increased from 52,000 points to 244,000 points over the same period.

He said NGX expects the total value of listed stocks to rise to N230 trillion by the end of 2026, driven by new listings and continued market growth.

‘The picture today is that when you took office in 2023, the total value of stocks listed in Nigeria was just shy of N30 trillion. Today, Mr. President, that figure is N160 trillion.

‘By the end of this year – with the listing that we are seeing in our market – we expect that figure to rise to N230 trillion,’ he said.

He also highlighted the performance of the all-share index, saying the market had reached levels previously unfamiliar to investors.

‘When we reached 100,000, we didn’t know how to calculate it anymore because it is not something that we are used to seeing,’ he said.

Stakeholders have called for an increased public investment and better implementation of the proposed 2027 agricultural budget.

The call followed a three-day National Stakeholders Consultative Meeting on the 2027 AgriFood Systems Budget, held in Lagos, organised by ActionAid Nigeria, GIZ, the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and the ECOWAS Commission’s agriculture department.

In a communique, the stakeholders said the aggregate public spending on agriculture by the federal government, the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory was estimated at 4.58 per cent in 2026, significantly below the 10 per cent commitment under the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme and the Kampala Declaration.

The stakeholders also raised concerns over poor implementation, noting that state-level capital budget implementation averaged about 50 per cent between 2023 and 2025.

They warned that delayed fund releases were particularly damaging to agriculture because planting and production activities are seasonal and time-sensitive.

According to evidence presented at the meeting, full implementation of approved agriculture and livestock capital budgets could generate an estimated 3.5 million direct quality jobs, including 2.1 million at the federal level and 1.4 million across states and the FCT.

They proposed a 2027 Agrifood Systems Shadow Capital Budget of N3.30 trillion, representing about 6 per cent of a N54.99 trillion reference national budget.

Stakeholders also recommended that the government consider a broader N10.5 trillion funding envelope as part of a realistic pathway towards meeting the 10 per cent benchmark.

They urged the Federal, State and Local Governments to progressively increase and protect agrifood funding, while ensuring that capital releases are made early enough to align with planting and production cycles.

The recommendations also called for stronger investment in mechanisation, irrigation, research, storage, processing, markets, agricultural insurance and climate resilience, rather than concentrating spending on fertiliser alone.

Stakeholders expressed concern that an estimated 98 per cent of the National Agricultural Development Fund’s 2026 capital allocation was concentrated on fertiliser programmes, despite the fund’s wider statutory mandate.

They said improved financing and accountability could strengthen food production, reduce post-harvest losses, create jobs and attract private investment across the agricultural value chain.

They urged lawmakers and government institutions to shift attention beyond budget allocations to the actual release, utilisation and measurable outcomes of agricultural spending.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has uncovered 399 fully assembled Jojef firearms alongside an assortment of supplementary rifle parts following the detailed examination of a massive arms haul seized at the Tin Can Island Port Command.

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, had on Thursday, 6 August, disclosed that Customs had intercepted a container containing concealed crates of knocked-down components preliminarily identified as Jojef pump-action rifles.

Speaking further on the development, National Public Relations Officer of Customs, Abdullahi Aliyu, in a statement on Sunday, said 399 rifles were uncovered after officers finalised the coupling and examination of the seized items.

According to the statement, the additional rifle parts recovered include 89 frames, 16 heat shields, 10 trigger pins, three pistons, 25 locking lugs, 80 charging handles, 39 pistol-grip screws, 34 springs, 57 trigger groups, 66 foregrip latches, 45 foregrips/handguards, four pistol grips and five barrels.

Aliyu said the CGC had warned that criminal networks could seek to exploit Nigeria’s borders, ports and airports ahead of the next general elections to move prohibited items into the country. He assured Nigerians that the Service would intensify surveillance and enforcement operations to prevent such activities.

‘We are about to enter a major election cycle, and we know that by this period, men of the underworld will want to use our borders, our ports, our airports to bring in items like this. We are going to redouble our efforts to ensure that we do not allow them to do so,’ Adeniyi was quoted as saying.

Following the complete inventory and assessment of the illicit shipment, Adeniyi said Customs is preparing to hand over the seized armaments to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW).

The Federal Ministry of Youth Development has endorsed the candidature of Mr Muhammad Bello Bala Shagari as National Representative of the Non-Aligned Movement Youth Organization (NAMYO) Nigeria and Vice Chairman for the Africa Region, ahead of the organisation’s forthcoming General Assembly and elections.

The endorsement was contained in a letter dated June 24, 2026, and addressed to the Secretariat of NAMYO.

In the letter signed on behalf of the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, the ministry described Shagari as a distinguished youth leader whose record of service, commitment to youth development and contributions to youth diplomacy had earned him both national and international recognition.

The ministry said Shagari had, over the years, demonstrated exemplary leadership by advancing youth participation, promoting international cooperation and fostering constructive engagement among young people from diverse backgrounds.

According to the ministry, Shagari’s experience, integrity and leadership capacity made him ’eminently qualified’ to continue serving the organisation in higher capacities.

‘Accordingly, the Federal Ministry of Youth Development hereby conveys the full support of the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for his candidature and respectfully commends him to the consideration of the Secretariat and all member chapters of NAMYO,’ the letter stated.

The ministry further expressed confidence that Shagari’s election would strengthen NAMYO and contribute to the advancement of youth cooperation, peacebuilding, sustainable development and international solidarity among member states.